Catheter insertion device



Oct. 14, 1969 R7 p, EARL 3,472,232

CATHETER INSERTION DEVICE Filed May :51, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 7 Robert R Eairl Attorney Oct. 14, 1969 R. P. EARL 3. 7 23 CATHETER INSERTION DEVICE Filed May 31, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor- Robert P., Earl b AMA Attorney United States Patent 3,472,232 CATHETER INSERTION DEVICE Robert Pendleton Earl, La Grange, Ill., assignor to Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 31, 1967, Ser. No. 642,577 Int. Cl. A61m 25/00 US. Cl. 128-348 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for insertion of a flexible catheter into an orifice having a rigid wall cannula with a slot extending along the wall thereof; a catheter disposed within the rigid wall cannula and a pressure member on the cannula and adapted slectively to exert a gripping force between the cannula and catheter to permit unit insertion of the cannula and catheter into an orifice, the cannula being separable from the catheter by withdrawal of the catheter through the wall slot of the cannula.

The present invention relates to an improved device for insertion of a catheter into an orifice or channel and more particularly it relates to an improved device having a rigid wall cannula for use in insertion of a flexible catheter into an orifice.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION It is, of course, readily understood that flexible catheters are necessary for insertion into body orifices, or the like, where the channel or orifice into which the catheter is to be inserted may be irregular. The flexible character of the catheter permits it to follow the irregularity of the orifice or channel. Additionally, there is less medical risk of damage or rupture to the channel with a flexible member, particularly where the member is less rigid than the medium into which it is being inserted. However, even if the inherent strengths of the bodies are substantially the same there is less likelihood of damage Where the catheter is able to accommodate itself to the condition of the channel.

One problem with the use of flexible catheters resides in the difliculty of initial insertion of the catheter. It can readily be understood that once the catheter is within the channel it adopts the rigidity of the channel in that the channel acts upon it during movement of the catheter within the channel. However, during insertion of the catheter problems are encountered in that the exposed flexible portion of the catheter bends or flexes rather than moving axially into the orifice or channel upon impression of an axially applied force to the tubing. Accordingly, supplemental rigidity must be employed to support the flexible member during insertion.

The present invention is directed to the provision of an improved insertion assembly wherein a rigid wall cannula is employed to provide the supplemental rigidity necessary for easy insertion of the catheter to the orifice. The cannula is defined by a generally tubular member having a wall slot therealong and having a pressure member at one end thereof. The pressure member defines means for temporary application of a gripping force between the cannula and catheter to permit unit insertion of the cannula and catheter into an orifice.

It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to provide an improved insertion assembly for a flexible catheter.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved insertion device having a rigid wall cannula to provide insertion rigidity for a flexible catheter.

3,472,232 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved insertion device for a flexible catheter having a rigid wall cannula disposed about the catheter and with means on the cannula to provide selective gripping action between the cannula and catheter for unit insertion of the cannula and catheter into an orifice.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved insertion device for a flexible catheter that is economical to manufacture, easy to use, durable in use and that is easily separated from the catheter after use for disposal.

THE DRAWINGS The present invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the detailed description of the invention set forth herein in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the device of the present invention, partially fragmented, and showing the catheter, cannula and pressure member of the invention;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary top elevation of the device of FIGURE 1 showing the slot in the wall of the cannula for separation of the cannula and catheter;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the cannula and catheter assembly of the device of FIGURE 1 showing the Wall slot of the cannula. in greater detail;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of one end of the cannula, schematically shown to be slightly flared, and

showing the outline of the pressure member associated with said one end of the cannula;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the device of FIGURE 1 through the pressure member of the device illustrating the gripping means of the pressure member in its static position and with the projection or gripping means thereon being out of engagement. with the catheter;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the member of FIGURE 5 showing the gripping means in gripping position and in engagement with the catheter to define a unit structure between the catheter and cannula;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the cannulacatheter assembly; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view like FIGURE 7 showing separation of the cannula and catheter by withdrawal of the catheter through the wall slot of the cannula.

Referring more particularly now to the drawings, the improved catheter inserter device is indicated generally at 10 and includes a cannula 12, catheter 14 and pressure member 16. The catheter 14 is telescopically received within the cannula 12, as indicated in the partially sectioned view of FIGURE 1, said cannula 12 defining a central opening 18 to receive the catheter 14.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 the cannula 12 is provided with a slot 20 extending through the wall and defining access to the central opening 18 of the cannula 12.

The catheter 14 may be a flexible plastic tubing of any given length with one end 22 of the catheter having a fe male leur taper associated therewith and with the other end 24 of the catheter beveled to permit ready access and movement within the catheter. As stated above, the catheter 14 is readily flexed and does not have suflicient inherent rigidity to be self-supporting. Accordingly, the catheter, by itself, is difiicult to work with when moving it axially and particularly when attempting to move it into a constricted area that even moderately resists passage of the catheter. It should be noted that once the catheter is within a fluid carrying channel and fluid is introduced to and flows along the catheter, the walls of the catheter will be supported against collapse or flexing by the kinetic pressure of the fluid and thereby will be provided with auxiliary supportive rigidity internally rather than externally.

The cannula 12 is defined by a rigid wall member with the slot 20 extending axially along the wall thereof. The cannula may be of stainless steel or other suitable relatively rigid material. For example, inert plastic materials may be substituted for stainless steel if medically acceptable for such use.

The cannula 12 may be sharpened at one end thereof in the same manner as a standard phlebotomy needle for ease of insertion of the cannula and catheter combination to the orifice or restricted channel. A pressure member 16 is secured to the other end 13 of the cannula 12. The pressure member 16 is defined by a body section 30 having an opening 32 therein which, when the member 16 is in assembled relation on the cannula 12, is in registration with the slot 20 of the cannula to define a continuous slot opening from the central tube opening 18 of the cannula to the exterior surface of the pressure member 16.

One edge of a flap 34 is secured to the body section 30 of the pressure member 16 and in its relaxed condition the flap 34 is biased to the position shown in FIGURE with the projection 38 of said flap 34 being lifted partially out of the opening 32 so that it will not extend into any portion of the opening 18 of cannula 12. The flap 34 may be integrally molded along said one edge 40 to define the hinge structure for pivotal support of the flap. Additionally, a spring member (not shown) may be molded within the flap 34 and body 30 to provide means for biasing said flap upwardly to the static position shown in FIG- URE 5 of the drawings.

The projection 38 of the flap 34 is adapted, when the flap is closed as in FIGURE 6, to move into the central opening 18 of the cannula 20. As the fiat 34 is folded into the body 30 of the pressure member 16 the projection 38 first moves into the opening 32 in said member and then partially projects into the opening 18 to define a restricted area with the channel or opening 18 of the cannula. The projection 38, when the flap 34 is closed, thereby engages the catheter 14 and defines a frictional, gripping engagement between said projection and the catheter. Accordingly, as the pressure member 16, cannula 20 and catheter 14 are locked into inter-gripping relation to define a unitary structure thereby permitting unit insertion of the cannula and catheter into an orifice with the sharpened end of the cannula 20 being in complete registration With the end 22 of the catheter. This will permit ease of insertion of the flexible catheter 14 and will define auxiliary rigidity for the otherwise defiectable wall portions of the catheter to permit insertion of the flexible catheter 14 into a restricted orifice or channel.

When the catheter and cannula assembly, 14 and 20, respectively, are inserted with a channel carrying fluid, flow of fluid in the channel will be diverted into the catheter to fully validate the tubular opening of the catheter 14. The cannula 20 then may be withdrawn from the channel and separated from the catheter 14.

Separation of the cannula 20 and catheter 14 may be realized as schematically shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawings wherein the catheter 14 is removed from the cannula by distorting it so that it will pass through the slot 20 of the catheter and opening 32 of the pressure member 16.

It should be noted that after insertion of the cannulacatheter combination the flap 34 is released and re-extends to its static position as seen in FIGURE 5 of the drawings to re-open the access opening 32 of the body 30 of said member.

When the cannula 20 is fully separated from the catheter 14 it may be discarded and the catheter 14 left within the channel for use.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention is shown and described it will, of course, be understood that other modifications and alternative constructions may be used without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternative constructions as fall within their true spirit and scope.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: i

1. A device to facilitate insertion of a catheter into an orifice comprising, in combination:

a rigid wall cannula having a wall slot extending along the length of the cannula;

a pressure member on said cannula having means selectively moved through said wall slot into and out of the opening of the cannula; and

a flexible catheter disposed within the cannula opening and adapted to be selectively engaged by the means of the pressure member for unit insertion of the cannula and catheter into said orifice, release of the means of the pressure member permitting removal of the cannula from the catheter.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the rigid wall cannula is sharpened at one end to permit ease of insertion thereof into said orifice.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the rigid wall cannula is provided with a flared portion at one end to receive the pressure member of the device and to orient it on the cannula.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the pressure member is moulded to the cannula to define a unitary structure therewith.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the molded pressure member includes an opening in registration with the slot of the rigid wall cannula and wherein the pressure member includes a projection which may selectively be moved into and out of registration with the central opening of the cannula of the device to define a restricted area in the cannula opening.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the projection is adapted to capture the catheter axially within the cannula opening to define an axially unitary structure and thereby permit unit insertion of the cannula and catheter into an orifice.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 628,292 10/1961 Canada. 322,426 12/1929 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Mitchell, An Introducer for Plastic Cannulae, British Medical Journal, Reports of Societies, Feb. 23, 1952, p. 435.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner M. F. MAJESTIC, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128214.4 

